‘What’s up Christian? Do you want to come to Brentford?’. Bees boss reveals signing Eriksen

Brentford manager Thomas Frank reveals how a phone call to his old friend Christian Eriksen led to the Danish international signing for the Premier League club.

The 29-year-old has agreed a deal with the Bees until the end of the season as he looks to return competitive football after suffering a cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark at Euro 2020 last summer.   

Eriksen’s contract with Inter Milan was terminated in December due to Italian regulations preventing him from playing in Serie A as he is fitted with a defibrillator and has attracted plenty of interest since that.

Thomas Frank reveals a phone call to Christian Eriksen is what sealed his deal to Brentford

He however opted to return to the Premier League where he enjoyed six-and-a-half years at Spurs after a simple phone call with fellow Dane Frank.

‘In the middle of December, I gave him a call,’ Frank told The Times. ‘I said, “What’s up Christian? Do you want to come to Brentford?’ 

It really was almost as simple as that because of the relationship forged between them when Eriksen was 16, when Frank was the former Spurs midfielder’s coach with Denmark Under-17.

The pair kept in touch when Eriksen joined Ajax and re-kindled that friendship when Frank moved to London to become part of Brentford’s coaching staff six years ago.

Franks and Eriksen (pictured) have stayed in touch since working together at Denmark under-17s

Although the Bees boss wouldn’t have expected to be signing Eriksen when he sat down to watch Denmark play against Finland in Euro 2020 last summer at his mother-in-law’s summer house. 

The star midfielder collapsed on the pitch and suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch in Copenhagen on June 12. 

‘We had a nice dinner and prepared everything for this big game for Denmark,’ Frank said. 

‘I clearly remember, when I saw the situation that something was wrong, I could see from the way he fell over. I get goosebumps now speaking about it. 

The Danish midfielder is ready to return to football after his shock cardiac arrest at Euro 2020

Thomas Frank was sat at his mother-in-law’s house when Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest

‘It was very dramatic and sitting there with two children means you know how it must feel to see your son [collapse]. 

‘Half of the Denmark team I have coached myself. I know all the Danish players one way or another; the head coach, Kasper Hjulmand, is a personal friend, I have friends among the staff, so it was very emotional. I was shocked.’  

It has since been made aware that Eriksen had survived thanks to the quick reaction of his team-mates and medics. 

Therefore perhaps no one at that time expected the former Spurs midfielder to return to football at the highest level.